On March 16, the Village of Westmont adopted a resolution to support the DuPage Monarch Project, which is an organized effort to improve and increase available monarch habit. The resolution, which was initiated by the Westmont Environmental Improvement Commission (EIC), brings awareness to the concern of diminished butterfly populations.

“The DuPage Monarch Project is pleased and excited by the Village of Westmont’s monarch resolution and its commitment to monarch and pollinator conservation,” said Lonnie Morris, Coordinator of the DuPage Monarch Project. “The growing number of monarch friendly communities in DuPage means there are more opportunities to learn from each other, share ideas and create oases of habitat within range for the short flights of native bees and butterflies.”

The EIC has coordinated a spring speaker series on a host of environment-related topics. On Wednesday, May 3, 7 p.m. at the Westmont Public Library, 428 N. Cass Avenue, the topic will be “WHERE ARE THE MONARCHS?” The presentation will feature local resident Pat Miller who will look at historical environmental factors that affect the monarch butterfly population. Miller will share information about efforts to turn the tide of butterfly population decline and what can be done to help.

The Village of Westmont and Clarendon Hills also continue to move forward together with the Richmond Education Garden & Apiary project, which will feature a butterfly-friendly habitat. There have also been conversations about possibly introducing natural vegetation improvements along the BNSF railroad corridor to further assist with this initiative.